Saturday, July 11thTimberlane Country Club, Gretna
It’s the 5th annual NOLA fundraiser and this year’s theme is Mardi Gras Bash. It's a great excuse to get out and show support of Kidd's Kids by providing a great day filled with Golf, swimming, food, beverages and plenty more entertainment plus chances to win some really great prizes. And at the end of the day 100% of our proceeds goes directly to Kidd's Kids.

Saturday, September 12thAudubon Park
When you walk in the Out of the Darkness Walks, you join the effort with hundreds of thousands of people to raise awareness and funds that allow AFSP to invest in new research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss. As the leader in the fight against suicide, and thanks to walkers like you from cities across the country, AFSP has been able to set a goal to reduce the annual suicide rate 20% by 2025.

At Kidd’s Kids, our primary goal is to provide chronically ill and/or physically challenged children (ages 5 to 12) with an unforgettable adventure! Throughout the year, we work hard to raise the funds necessary to send these special kids on an all-expenses paid, fun-filled, vacation to Walt Disney World ® in Florida. Most of our funding comes from donations made by listeners to the Kidd Kraddick In The Morning radio show, corporate sponsors, and various fundraising events.

Each year, we sponsor approximately 40-50 children and their families (including siblings between the ages of 5 and 16) for the trip, or as many as the Kidd’s Kids Board may deem appropriate under the circumstances. The Board will work with such sources as it deems appropriate to select children based upon the nature and severity of their illnesses, their ages, and the status of their financial needs.

All aspects of the trip are coordinated by Kidd’s Kids. All funds raised go directly to cover the cost of sending the children and their families to Walt Disney World®, administrative expenses of Kidd’s Kids, and to sustain an endowment fund for the purpose of providing long-term growth and stability for the charitable programs of the Kraddick Foundation dba Kidd’s Kids.

Covenant House serves over 1,000 homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth (ages 16-21) every year. They have provided over 18,000 kids with food, shelter, clothing, medical attention, individual & family counseling, educational assistance, vocational & job training, life skills, short & long term housing, and more. Over the past year, their accomplishments include:

Crisis Shelter: served 565 youth and children, a 48% increase over the previous year.

Stable Housing: 55% of kids successfully reunited with family, enrolled in transitional or supportive housing, or saved enough of their employment income to rent an apartment.

Jobs: 54% of the kids in their employment program found jobs or entered job-training programs.

Rights of Passage: recently reopened our educational, vocational, and transitional living program for 36 youth.

Covenant House’s numbers continue to grow. The Cowen Institute estimates there are between 12,000 and 16,000 youth facing the dangers of the streets. In the past year, their average daily census has increased from 45 to over 100 kids per night. To help, please call 504-584-1141 or visit www.covenanthouseno.org. In addition to monetary donations, they accept clothing appropriate for youth ages 16-21. To volunteer, please call 504-584-1103.

Your generous, tax-deductible donation to Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) enables us to help thousands of injured warriors returning from the battlefield and helps provide assistance to their families. Donate online here

Parents: Parents play a key role in preventing and responding to bullying. If you know or suspect that your child is involved in bullying, there are several resources that may help.

Educators: Schools are a primary place where bullying can happen. There are many tools on this website specific for teachers, administrators, and other school staff.

Community: Whether you work in law enforcement, mental health services, community or youth organizations, or any other role that works with children, there are resources to help you take action against bullying.

Kids: Bullying is being mean to another kid over and over again. There are things you can do to keep yourself and the kids you know safe from bullying.

The Brees Dream Foundation is focused on advancing research in the fight against cancer, and providing care, education and opportunities for children. Since July 2007, the Foundation has contributed over $5.0 million to some 50 organizations including: Lusher Charter School, New Orleans Charter Science and Math High School, Sam Green Edible Schoolyard, Best Buddies, Beacon of Hope, New Orleans Outreach, New Orleans area Habitat for Humanity, Covenant House, the Audubon Institute, and NORD/Pontchartrain Park.

In the last year, the foundation has made significant contributions to the Tad Gormley Stadium renovation project, Hope Lodge, Idea Village, and the New Orleans Ballet Association’s NORD/NOBA Center for Dance. For more info, visit DrewBrees.com

Volunteer New Orleans!

Looking for a way to help our community? Here are some local charities and organizations who can use your help.

AIGA New Orleans - The New Orleans chapter of the professional association for design seeks volunteers for its upcoming events. Email volunteers@neworleans.aiga.org for details.

American Cancer Society - The American Cancer Society needs volunteers for upcoming events and to facilitate patient-service programs. Opportunities are available with Relay for Life, Look Good … Feel Better, Hope Lodge, Man to Man, Road to Recovery, Hope Gala and more. Call for information. American Cancer Society, 2605 River Road, Westwego, (Westwego), 833-4024 or (800) ACS-2345, www.cancer.org.

Another Life Foundation Volunteers - Another Life Foundation seeks volunteers recovering from mental illness to help mentor others battling depression and suicidal behaviors. Free training provided. For details, contact Stephanie Green at (888) 543-3480 or anotherlifefoundation@hotmail.com or visit www.anotherlifefoundation.org.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Volunteers - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeast Louisiana needs volunteers to serve as mentors to area children. A volunteer meets two to three times a month with his or her Little Brother or Sister. You can play games, watch movies, bake cookies, play sports or plan any other outings you both would enjoy. Call for information. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeast Louisiana, 2626 Canal St., Suite 203, (Central Business District), 309-7304 or (877) 500-7304, www.bbbssela.org.

Big Shirley's of New Orleans - The restaurant needs volunteers to help plan for a city-wide fishing trip for New Orleans youth. Call Michael at 994-5585 or 862-5858 for details. Big Shirley's of New Orleans, 1434 S. Carrollton Ave., (Carrollton/Riverbend), 862-5858.

CASA New Orleans - The organization seeks volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates to represent abused and neglected children in New Orleans. Thorough training and support is provided. Call 522-1962 ext. 213 or email dhershberg@casaneworleans.org for information.

Jackson Barracks Museum Volunteers - The museum seeks volunteers to work one day a week for the Louisiana National Guard Museum. Volunteers prepare military aircraft, vehicles and equipment for display. Call David at 837-0175 or email daveharrell@yahoo.com for details.

Louisiana SPCA Volunteers - The Louisiana SPCA seeks volunteers to work with the animals and help with special events, education and more. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and complete a volunteer orientation to work directly with animals. Call or email Dionne Simoneaux at Dionne@la-spca.org. Dorothy Dorsett Brown LA/SPCA Campus, 1700 Mardi Gras Blvd., Algiers, (West Bank), 368-5191, www.la-spca.org.

National World War II Museum - The museum is accepting applications for volunteers to meet and greet visitors from around the world and familiarize them with its galleries, artifacts and expansion. Call 527-6012 ext. 233 or email janet.mauer@nationalww2museum.org for details. National World War II Museum, 945 Magazine St., (Warehouse District), 527-6012, www.nationalww2museum.org.

Operation REACH Volunteers - Operation REACH and Gulfsouth Youth Action Corps seek college student volunteers from all over the country to assist in providing recreational and educational opportunities for New Orleans-area inner-city youth and their families. For information, visit www.thegyac.org and www.operationreach.org.

Public School Volunteers - New Orleans Outreach seeks volunteers to share their enthusiasm and expertise as part of the ARMS-Outreach after-school program. Volunteers are needed in the arts, academics, technology, recreation and life skills. Email jenny@nooutreach.org or call 654-1060 for information.

Senior Companion Volunteer - The council seeks senior volunteers to assist with personal and other daily tasks to help seniors live independently. Call for details. New Orleans Council on Aging, Annex Conference Room, 2475 Canal St., 821-4121, www.nocoa.org.

Shared Housing - Shared Housing of New Orleans seeks volunteers to work three to four hours a week. Visit www.sharedhousingofneworleans.org or call 228-1795 or 896-2575 for details.

Teen Suicide Prevention - The Teen Suicide Prevention Program seeks volunteers to help teach middle- and upper-school New Orleans students. The next training sessions are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 17 and 25. Call 831-8475 for details.

Zoo Ambassadors - The zoo seeks volunteers to serve as ambassadors by talking to the public about exotic animals. Training sessions are held from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Call 212-5194 or email zoovolunteers@auduboninstitute.org for information. Audubon Zoo, 6500 Magazine St., New Orleans (Uptown), (800) ITS-A-ZOO, www.auduboninstitute.org.